Fountain Valley Car Accident Results in Critical Injuries

Jose Baez, 37, suffered critical injuries in a Fountain Valley car accident after two vehicles collided at a street intersection.

According to a news report in the Huntington Beach Independent, the major injury collision occurred at the intersection of Edinger Avenue and Ward Street the night of June 13, 2014.

Police who responded to the incident found Baez injured and unresponsive in a Honda sedan, which had collided with a Toyota sedan driven by a licensed minor.

The occupants of the Toyota sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said the Toyota was eastbound on Edinger and made a left turn on to Ward when it
collided with Baez’s Honda that was traveling west on Edinger. Police do not believe alcohol or drugs were factors.

The investigation into the incident is still ongoing. No citations or arrests have been reported.

Orange County Crash Statistics

There were four fatalities and 396 injuries involving car accidents in Fountain Valley in 2011, according to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS).

In Orange County as a whole, 128 people died and 13,541 were injured due to traffic accidents during the same year.

Left Turn Law

Based on this news report, it appears that the young driver of the Toyota made a left turn in front of the victim’s Toyota.

I trust officials are looking into how fast the vehicles were going and who had the right of way in this particular case.

California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a) states: “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety.”

Fault and Accident Liability

If the teen driver is determined to have been at fault, he or she can be held liable for the victim’s injuries, damages and losses.

Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress.

Injured victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.

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